Time controlled linkage actuating mechanism



April 3, 1951 R. A. BARRETT TIMECONTROLLED LINKAGE ACTUATING MECHANISM-2 Sheets-Sheet .1

Filed Oct. 15, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNE Y April 3, 1951 R. A. BARRETT TIME CONTROLLED LINKAGE ACTUATINGMECHANISM Filed Oct. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V]; N TOR. RALPH A.BARRETT ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIMECONTROLLED LINKAGE ACTUATENG MECHANISM Ralph A. Barrett, Cleveland,Ohio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 15, 1949, Serial No.121,593

machine whereby the motion of the agitator may be automaticallydiscontinued after a predetermined but variable time interval. In awellknown'manner, agitator movement effects washing of articles disposedwith water in a washing machine tub and for articles such as silks orrayons the washing action should be discontinued after an interval suchas five minutes, whereas in washing linens the interval may be fifteenminutes; As another example, the mechanism may be used for automaticallyclosing a valve controlling the gas supply to a stove after apredetermined interval. In other words, the gas would be ignited and theclock set for any desired interval and the flame would be automaticallyextinguished through cutting oil the gas supply at the termination ofthe interval.

Spring operable clocks of the type contemplated herein have beenpreviously used for controlling small electric switches through movementof a lever associated with the clock after a desired interval. Windingof the clock loads a cam member operably connected to the main springand a detent prevents movement of the cam member and relieves the timingmechanism of the clock from undue load. At the expiration of the timeinterval the detent is moved by the timing mechanism, permitting the cammember to move by power from the main spring and this movement effectspartial rotary movement of a lever' disposed externally of the clockhousing. Although this lever has sufilcient power to move switchcontacts against a light spring force, it does not have sufficient powerto actuate linkage moving a clutch, gas control valve or the like. Thepresent invention combines linkage of the type contemplated with a clockof this type in a manner causing an operator in winding the clock toexert additional force which will preload spring means associated withthe linkage for actuating the linkage when the time interval hasexpired. 7 1

According to the invention, a conventional spring clock forms a unitwith linkage adapted to be connected to a clutch, valve or the like andthe clock is provided with a dial type knob aflixed to a shaft adaptedto wind the main spring of the clock. The linkage and shaft are operablyconnected whereby the linkage is preloaded when the knob is rotated toset the clock for the desired time interval, and setting of the clockconcurrently winds the same. A lever operable by the clock merely servesas a detent and is not required to transmit the load operating thelinkage.

- It is a primary object of the invention to provide mechanical linkagein association with a conventional spring operable clock and utilize themanual clock winding movement for providing additional energytoautomatically actuate the linkage after a predetermined interval.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallyactuating a clutch, valve or the like after a predetermined interval andto utilize a portion of the energy required to rotate a dial knob forstoring energy to actuate said means at the expiration of the interval.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the abovetype which is relatively simple and economical to manufacture. 7

Other objects of the invention and the invention itself will becomeincreasingly apparent from a consideration of the following descriptionand drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a mechanism embodying theinvention, mounted in a washing machine, with parts being omitted andpartially broken away for clearness of illustration;

Figure 2 is arfront or left hand elevational view of themechanismillustrated in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig.1;

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the clock and associated partsillustrated in Fig. 1; and

Figure 5 is a front view of a control knob I may employ.

Referring now to the drawings, I have indicated at I!) the frame orbottom portion of a washing machine which is generally cylindrical orrectangular in shape and encases the gear case, motor and other partsdisposed beneath the tub. A cross brace H is fixed to opposite points inthe frame and through a pair of bolts l2 supports a bracket I3 Thebracket has a depending front flange l4 and has a timer shaft I6extending from a clock I! loosely projected through an opening in flangeI4. The clock is mounted in any suitable manner as by a pair of V screwsit (one being shown) projected through the flange l4 and threaded intothe front face of the clock housing. Shaft it has a suitable controlknob 29 fixed thereto for rotating the shaft to wind the clockmain'spring, determine or set the time during which the clock will run,and preload spring means for actuating linkage to be described.

A lever 2| is mounted on the rear face of the clock housing which willbe rotated in one direc tion when the clock or timer is set and will beautomatically rotated in a reverse direction at the end of apredetermined time interval. The free end of the lever is bent to forman abutment indicated at 22. Through suitable mechanism the leverrotation during setting of the timer loads a light spring and the leveris held in rotated position by a detent to relieve the timing mechanismof any holding effort and at the end of the predetermined time intervalthe detent is automatically moved permitting the spring to move thelever in a reverse direction. The mechanism so far described isconventional and although the lever has suificient power to operateswitch contacts or the like it is not suitable for operating linkage toeffect the purposes herein contemplated.

Fixed to the timer shaft it forwardly of the bracket flange I4 is alever 23 which has one end of a generally L shaped slide arm 24 pivotedthereto as indicated at 2%. The opopsite end of arm 23 has a pin 21therein adapted to ride in a slot 28 formed in a link member 29. Theright hand end of member 29 (Fig. 2) has aportion 3i extending laterallyfrom its top edge which is pivotally connected by a pin 32 to one arm ofa crank 33. Crank 33 is pivotally suported from bracket i3 by a bolt 34and suitable washers and lock nuts. Integral with portion 3! of linkmember 22 is a horizontal arm 35.

Arm 3% at its free end has a laterally extending portion whichterminates in a pair of upstanding and spaced ears 3? between which ismounted a rockable element 38 connected to ears 3'! by a pin 39. Atension spring t'll has one end connected to bracket flange i4 and itsopposite end connected to crank 33. A red. M has one end pivotallyconnected to crank 33 and its opposite end pivotally connected to a rockarm G2.

The operation of the parts so far described will now be explained. Inthe event the mechanism is adapted to disengage the agitator clutch of awashing machine the knob i9 is marked as indicated in Fig. and thewashing machine frame it will have an indexing button or the like 43inserted therein. When the washing machine is not operating the knob 19will be in the position of Fig. 5 with the off position aligned withbutton :13. Under these conditions the parts will be as illustrated infull lines, the free end of lever 2! being elevated as shown in Fig. 2and spring at being substantially free of load. Knob i9 is rotated in aclockwise direction (Fig. 5) through a minimum of approximately 90 or tothe eight minute indication. This movement causes lever 23 to forceslide arm 24 through its maximum position of travel to the right (Fig.2) carrying with it the link member 29 and the rockable element 38. Atthe same time the lever 25 rotates clockwise (Fig. 2) and the element 33is so positioned that it moves slightly beyond the abutment 22 of lever2i whereby lever 2! serves as a detent preventing reverse movement oflink member 29 after the abutment 22 engages element 38. Due to itsconnection with member 29, crank 33 is rotated and the spring 48 istensioned or loaded. Movement of the crank through rod 4| rotates rockarm 42 to the dotted line position (Fig. 1) thereby engaging the clutchfor driving the agitator. Clutches of the type contemplated are wellknown wherein partial rotary movement of an arm in one direction willengage the clutch and a reverse movement will disengage the same.

The rockable element 38 may be of inverted U form in cross section withits left hand end (Fig. 3) bent downwardly so it is adapted to rest onthe top face of arm 36, the element being weighted relative to itssupport point to achieve this condition. Downward movement of lever 2|depresses the right hand portion of element 38 which has sliding contacttherewith and after the element clears lever 25 the weight distributioncauses the right hand portion to elevate and engage the lever abutment22. To insure elevating movement I may provide a light spring whichtends to keep the element in contact with the lever. It will be notedthat although spring 40 may be relatively heavy the load on lever 2| issubstantially a direct thrust and that little ll any holding load isimposed on the clock mechanism. 1 preferably have the abutment 2 2engage the depending sidewall of element 38 at a slight angle to preventany tendency to bind when the lever starts to move in a reversedirection at the end of the timed interval.

It will be noted that the force for engaging the clutch is efiecteddirectly through the control knob or timer shaft and is not transmittedto the relatively delicate clock mechanism. Also, the preloading ofspring 48 for disengaging the clutch is directly effected through thetimer shaft. Although I have described the linkage as operating awashing machine clutch. it will be evident that it may be employed foroperating various devices such as gas valves and the like. Although Ihave shown spring 49 as attached to crank 33 it will be evident that thesame result could be obtained if it were connected to other parts of thelinkage such as link member 29, rod

4i, or rock arm 42.

If the time interval desired is such that slide arm 24 must be moved toits maximum travel position to the right (Fig. 2) the clockwise rotationof knob I9 is continued and pin 2] will ride in slot 28 to the leftuntil the proper setting is reached. If the time interval desired isshorter than required to have lever 2i lock link member 2a in itsmaximum right hand position, knob 19 is rotated in a clockwise directionuntil this result is achieved and it is then rotated in acounter-clockwise direction to the proper setting such as three minutes.Clocks of the type described are designed so that if the knob is rotatedbeyond an automatic time zone the clock mechanismwill be renderedinoperative to lift 1ever'2l and the agitator or the like will continueto operate until the knob is manually moved to the off position.Accordingly, in the present instance this would be effected if the knobwere rotated to have the hold zone aligned with button 43. Afterthe-timer is set the clock rotates the timer shaft and knob in a reversedirection until the off position is reached and lever 21 is elevatedpermitting spring 45 to move link member 29 to the left (Fig. 2) therebyrocking arm in areverse direction to disengage the clutch or the like.

It will now be apparent that I- have disclosed means whereby aconventional relatively light clock adapted to be manually wound may beassociated with linkage which the clock is not designed to operate insuch a manner that the linkage is initially actuated by the same manualmovement which winds the clock and at the same time preloads springmeans adapted to automatically move the linkage in a reverse directionat the expiration of a predetermined time interval. The forces causinglinkage movement are not transmitted through the clock mechanism and theonly force absorbed by the clock is a substantially direct thrust on alever which serves as a detent.

I Wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a clock timer of the type having a shaftextending from the timer housing and a lever disposed externally of thehousing whereby when the shaft is rotated from an off position the leveris moved in a given direction and after a predetermined intervaldependent on the amount of shaft rotation the lever is automaticallymoved in a reverse direction, of linkage adapted to actuate a clutch orthe like directly operable by the shaft without imposing any substantialload on the timer, said linkage comprising a movable link member, meansoperably connecting the shaft and link member whereby when the shaft isrotated from the off position the member will be moved in a givendirection, means connected to the link member engageable by the leverwhen the shaft is rotated a predetermined amount from the off positionto hold thelink member against movement in a reverse direction, springmeans operatively connected to the link member adapted to be loaded whenthe shaft is rotated from the off position, means adapted to operativelyconnect the link member with a clutch or the like, and the spring meansbeing adapted to move the link member in said reverse direction when thelever is moved by the timer after a predetermined interval determined bythe amount of shaft rotation from the off position.

2. The combination as described in claim 1 and wherein the meansoperatively connecting the shaft and link member comprise a lever fixedto the shaft, a slide arm having one end pivotally connected to theshaft lever and its opposite end slidabie in a slot provided in the linkmember whereby at maximum travel of the shaft lever towards the linkmember the slide arm will force the link member to a position permittingthe timer lever to lock the link member against reverse movement.

3. The combination as described in claim 1 and wherein the holding meansfor the link member comprises a rockable element mounted on the linkmember and movable therewith, the rockable element being biased tonormally engage the timer lever at an intermediate point thereof, andthe rockable element being movable towards an end of the timer leverconcurrently with movement of said lever end whereby when the rockableelement moves slightly beyond the lever it will be tilted to engage thelever end thereby holding the link member in its moved position.

4. The combination as described in claim 1 and wherein the means adaptedto operatively connect the link. member with a clutch or the likecomprises a crank pivoted at a point spaced from the link member andhaving one end connected to the link member, a rock arm pivoted at apoint spaced from the crank, a rod interconnecting the crank and rockarm, and spring means adapted to be tensioned when the crank moves in agiven direction for effecting movement of the crank in a reversedirection.

RALPH A. BARRETT.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Johnson Dec. 24, 1935Number

